As this past week came to a close it finally sank in that another Christmas season was once again upon us. The couple of snow days out of school before Christmas break were a rare treat, but these two weeks off during the middle of the year are more appreciated than anyone knows.

The day we came back from our little icy break, we had our annual Christmas concert performed by the Russellville Middle School band and choir. It is amazing the talent these students have at such an early age and what our staff does with them to put on such a heartwarming concert each and every year. Their concert has been my cue that it’s time to get ready for Christmas for several years now, but this year it definitely snuck up on me.

The weekend before last, I spent the entire weekend in the deer woods to close out the muzzle-loading portion of the 2013 deer season and during the ice storm, shopping was not an option, so once again I have waited right up to the last minute to get my Christmas shopping done.

So as you are sitting by the fire reading your Sunday Courier, this hunter is probably out on the town hunting down my last minute gifts. Hopefully there are a few left!

As for the deer hunting, I still have three days left to find that monster buck that has somehow eluded me all season. Someone at the AGFC (Arkansas Game and Fish) must have teachers and several kids in their family as well, because scheduling the last three days of the modern gun season for the three days directly following Christmas is simply genius.

I only wish that I could talk them into about seven days since I am going to be off at this time as well, but I guess I will take what I can get. It’s just hard to drag that old crossbow back out after being able to hunt with a muzzleloader and a gun, but the good news is bow season runs until the end of February.

This is definitely the year I should have started back doing more duck hunting as reports throughout the river valley area contend that we are simply loaded down with ducks.

Several of my friends and other hunters say that this is the best duck season in the river valley in several years, if not ever.

Duck season also fits well for those that have time off during Christmas as the season is long with a few breaks in between. Also this year there are large numbers of geese scattered throughout the natural state and hunters are having tremendous success harvesting them as well.

As far as your time off during Christmas I hope it is filled with lots of quality time with family, friends and also an outdoor adventure or two, whether it be playing in the snow, hunting in the mountains or a duck blind, or maybe even on the lake pulling in some large crappie.

No matter what you are doing this Christmas I hope you enjoy it to the fullest and that you and yours have the best holiday ever! Merry Christmas!